Multiple lineup changes have been made for the One New Zealand Warriors’ fourth-round New South Wales Cup match against Western Suburbs at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in Sydney on Sunday (3.55pm kick-off local time; 5.55pm NZT).
Coming off three straight wins, injuries and NRL squad demands have forced the table toppers to reshape their squad.
For a start, they’ve lost both centres Rocco Berry and Moala Graham-Taufa.
Berry has been promoted to resume his NRL career with veteran winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (hamstring) sidelined while Graham-Taufa is missing after being forced off with a knee injury only 21 minutes into last Friday night’s impressive 46-12 win over Manly Warringah.
That sees 64-game first grader Morgan Harper moved into his more accustomed role in the centres after being used on the wing since being signed by the Warriors (where he has averaged 150 metres in his first three outings).
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Magpies is number 1 Heath MasonFullback for Warriors is number 1 Geronimo Doyle
-
Winger for Magpies is number 2 Izaac Tu'itupouWinger for Warriors is number 2 Daeon Amituanai
-
Centre for Magpies is number 3 Solomona FaataapeCentre for Warriors is number 3 Morgan Harper
-
Centre for Magpies is number 4 Josh FeledyCentre for Warriors is number 4 Sio Kali
-
Winger for Magpies is number 5 Alex LobbWinger for Warriors is number 5 Edward Kosi
-
Five-Eighth for Magpies is number 6 Latu FainuFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Te Maire Martin
-
Halfback for Magpies is number 7 Kurt FallsHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Tanah Boyd
Forwards
-
Prop for Magpies is number 8 Kit LauliliiProp for Warriors is number 8 Bunty Afoa
-
Hooker for Magpies is number 9 Tristan HopeHooker for Warriors is number 9 Samuel Healey
-
Prop for Magpies is number 10 Vaka AhoProp for Warriors is number 10 Tanner Stowers-Smith
-
2nd Row for Magpies is number 11 Tony Sukkar2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jacob Laban
-
2nd Row for Magpies is number 12 Reuben Porter2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
-
Lock for Magpies is number 13 Charlie MurrayLock for Warriors is number 13 Kalani Going
Interchange
-
Interchange for Magpies is number 14 Max LilesInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Freddy Lussick
-
Interchange for Magpies is number 15 Jaxson RahmeInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Toby Crosby
-
Interchange for Magpies is number 16 Jayden TannerInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Kayliss Fatialofa
-
Interchange for Magpies is number 17 Tim JohannssenInterchange for Warriors is number 18 Caleb Laiman
Reserves
-
Replacement for Magpies is number 21 Brandon TumethReplacement for Warriors is number 20 Luke Hanson
Magpies Ins
- Latu Fainu
Warriors Ins
- Caleb Laiman
- Daeon Amituanai
- Jacob Laban
- Samuel Healey
- Sio Kali
Magpies Outs
- Charlie Staines
Warriors Ins
- Jason Seu Salalilo
- Makaia Tafua
- Moala Graham-Taufa
- Rocco Berry
- Tom Ale
Last updated:
Joining him in the centres is highly promising 19-year-old Sio Kali who scored three tries in eight games as an NSW Cup rookie last year plus five tries in a combined total of seven matches for the club’s Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) and SG Ball Cup (under-19) sides.
Replacing Harper on the wing is Wellington-raised Daeon Amituanai, a foundation player alongside the likes of current first-grader Ali Leiataua in the Warriors’ first SG Ball Cup side in 2020.
When the competition was cancelled due to Covid, Amituanai signed with Penrith where he made 48 NSW Cup appearances and scored 28 tries before returning to the Warriors for the 2024-2025 offseason. He was used in the club’s first Preseason Challenge match against Cronulla Sutherland when he distinguished himself with a thunderous tackle on Chris Vea’ila.
In the pack NRL front rower Tom Ale is out for several weeks with a foot strain providing a starting opportunity for the well-performed Tanner Stowers-Smith, recently upgraded to the top 30 NRL squad.
Jacob Laban is back in the second row while hooker Sam Healey returns after a week off recovering from a knock and Freddy Lussick reverts to the interchange.
